Switchover To Affect Freeview Platform

One in 10 Freeview households will not have permanent access to the digital terrestrial TV service’s full range of channels after analogue switchoff, according to media regulator Ofcom.

After switchoff in 2012, Ofcom said that 10% of the country would not be able to watch three of the six Freeview multiplexes – bundles of channels – all of the time.

That means patchy or even non-existent access to channels such as the Cartoon Network, Sky Sports News, UKTV History and ITV Play, which are broadcast on one of Freeview’s three commercial multiplexes.

However, the 18 channels on the other three public service multiplexes, including the main networks provided by the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, will be available to 98.5% of the country.

At the moment the commercial multiplexes on Freeview cover 73% of the UK’s population, which will be increased to 90% after switchover.Ofcom said it would consider future requests for additional transmission sites that would improve on this coverage.

Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk